Why are there holes in the cross hatched area of an oil dipstick?

[garageman402]

My Chevy Express 6.0 has 5 holes on the dipstick between Add & Full, what is the reason for these? Seems like each hole is 8oz. apart.

 

[CleanSump]

Easy to read the level because the holes hold oil. Oil in the hole, you have at least that level. No oil in the hole, the level is below that point.
The 5 holes and volume I can't help with as I have only had holes at full and add.

 

[blufeb95]

I guess it might make it easier to read, My dad's 2015 Ford Escape 2.5L dipstick has a hole punched at the minimum and full lines and a cross hatched area at the lower half, I guess their reasoning is that you don't need to top it up unless it gets down to the cross hatched area.

 

[garageman402]

I’ve read that the first inner holes are hot and cold levels. No mention of the middle hole, any thoughts?

 

[blufeb95]

This is what the owner's manual says.

 

[Soft Cars]

It makes the oil level easier to read when the oil is new and almost clear.

Shine a flashlight from the backside of the holes and you'll see the oil with a slight yellow-ish amber tint.

 

[gathermewool]

My Subies are sometimes kind of hard to get a read on. Many times the oil will rise up the dipstick at an angle instead of being a clear perpendicular line across. When I add or change the oil I add incrementally until the full hole is filled. Easy and always repeatable. I’d be happier if I had more holes in the middle.

 

[Warstud]

My SUV has a dipstick like the one shown above with the 4.3L and is Black and makes it easier to see .

 

[eljefino]

There are some dipstick tubes that for whatever reason fill with oil and smear oil above the "fill" line. Having holes better proves that the stick actually dunked into liquid oil.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Yeah, easier to read. When it's clean, it is pretty clear. I smear it laterally on a rag to see top.
Or just move my thumb from the dry towards the wet to determine level.
I also keep dipstick vertical / slanted so the earl does not move up the stick.

 

[Greasymechtech]

GM? Cost cutting move to save on amount metal used, and to lower vehicle weight for better enviro-MPG

 

[FowVay]

It's been proven that the amount of detergent remaining in a motor oil is directly related to the surface tension of the fluid. Therefore, the manufacturer puts tiny holes in the dip stick so you can test for remaining detergency by simply blowing on the dip stick as shown:

 

[Convert]

I thought the holes were there to make the vehicle lighter to improve thr MPH.

just kidding.

CONVERT
TOM B

 

[Traction]

The most important part is to never let it even get to the low mark.

 

[repairman54]

Express has a longer dipstick tube unlike pickups and cars so the holes make for a more accurate reading since you are pulling it through a way longer tube.

 

[Hermann]

My Subies are sometimes kind of hard to get a read on. Many times the oil will rise up the dipstick at an angle instead of being a clear perpendicular line across. When I add or change the oil I add incrementally until the full hole is filled. Easy and always repeatable. I’d be happier if I had more holes in the middle.

Pull it out and drill some.

 

[garageman402]

Express has a longer dipstick tube unlike pickups and cars so the holes make for a more accurate reading since you are pulling it through a way longer tube.

Yes, it's definitely longer! The dipstick is exactly like the picture from the owner's manual that blufeb95 posted. I don't think I have ever used the holes to judge the fill level, I've always been able to wipe it clean enough to actually see oil on the stick. It may take multiple attempts (& holding it to reflect sunlight) to get a clear reading, tho, lol.

I read from a Google search that the holes are for hot and cold readings, in other words the second from the top hole is full cold, but the bottom hole would be low cold, & that would mean the second hole from the bottom is low hot, so if you add a quart, it would be over full hot. There would have to be a 6th hole with a longer cross hatched area for that to be true. Each hole is 8oz, or 1/4 quart.

The service manual states you get a more accurate reading before starting the engine, which in my experience you don't even have to wipe it, the oil has settled out of the tube & stick. So they are saying the full mark is full cold. I'll have to remember to check it hot and see if there is a difference.

Thanks for all the answers, funny & sarcastic too. I can only presume the holes are for reference in 8oz increments, so you can judge usage, and top up if you are that OCD .

 

[PimTac]

You would think one or two holes would be sufficient?

 

[weaponoffreedom]

I would say to see the oil better in the stick, and the oil will not run out easily for veiwing...

My L8T 6.6 Seems to use a bunch oil oil

 

[joekingcorvette]

My 2014 Jeep GC has a very long dipstick and it will drop a lot of oil if you are not careful. The dipstick is slanted in the vehicle and has about 3 inches or more to read the oil level between low and full. It has never used any oil.